Are The Dolphins off of Life Support?

Are The Dolphins off of Life Support?

The Miami Dolphins, having started the season 0-3, certainly seemed like a patient in the hospital on life support. The biggest question among fans and media seemed to be whether to “pull the plug” (tank) or to fight on and hope the patient recovers.

Having just won their fifth game of the season against the New Orleans Saints, it seems the patient has some life left. This was not a pretty game, despite Miami dominating its opponent offensively and leading 16-0 at halftime. But, as Dolphin’s fans are saying a lot these days, “a win is a win.”

With a record of 5-7, the team has less than a one percent chance of making the playoffs. Only one team has finished with a winning record after starting 4-7. That team?

Ironically, the 2021 Miami Dolphins. If this year’s team were to run the table and win their remaining games, the percentage goes to 13%. Even at 10 wins, it would not guarantee a playoff spot. Miami has the 11^th seed currently. Much has to happen for them to get into Wild Card contention.

So, is this team off life support? At 0-3, many thought they were D.O.A. However, some of the rookies that got off to a very slow start are now showing a pulse, and it’s getting stronger. Grant, Biggers, and Phillips seem to be turning a corner and are not the liabilities they were at the beginning of the season. This may be the biggest factor in the season’s turnaround.

A few weeks ago, Mike McDaniel’s firing was a foregone conclusion for his time in Miami. Clearly, though, the team has not given up on him and continues to play hard for their head coach. With the team winning four of its last five games, he seems to have been “resuscitated” and could be back again in 2026.

He has a pretty strong pulse right now, especially after implementing the jumbo (he calls it the “heavy”) package in the offense. This has been the reason that the run game has finally improved.

Right now, the biggest liability on the team is, sadly, Tua Tagovailoa. This patient has a thready pulse and, quite frankly, is slipping fast. He is not the same quarterback he was at Alabama, and not close to the player he was in 2024 or 2025. What is sad is watching him deteriorate each week. While there are glimpses of his former self here and there, the bottom line is that he has no athleticism anymore.